Handle for paper cup

ABSTRACT

A paper cup unit includes a paper cup which has a plastic layer formed along the open top of the paper cup. The plastic layer is an annular portion and has two slits defined therethrough, and the two slits do not communicate with each other. A portion between each of the two slits and the outer periphery of the plastic layer is a handle which is bent upward from the plastic layer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a paper cup, and more particularly, to a handle of a paper cup.

2. Background of the Invention

Different kinds of fast-food stores provide people to get food quickly and conveniently, and people in this modern world are so busy and they need take-out food to save time so that many take-out containers and cups are developed for receiving food, beverage and the like therein. However, the take-out containers and cups do not have a handle for the users to grasp, most of the fast-food stores have to provide plastic bags for the take-out containers and cups. The use of plastic bags increases environmental burden.

In order to improve the shortcoming, the conventional take-out cup has a film to seal the open top of the cup, and the film is larger than the open top of the cup. There are two slits defined through the film and located corresponding to outside of the lip portion of the cup. The portions between the slits and the outer periphery of the film become the handles, and the handles each have a hole. The film is heat-melted on the open top of the cup and the handles can be formed by lifting the portions between the slits and the outer periphery of the film. The straw can be inserted through the holes so as to suck the beverage in the cup.

However, the handles are a part of the film which is made by thin plastic material and heat-melted to the open top of the cup, so that when the user holds the handles, the handles cannot bear the weight and probably break. Besides, the slits have to be made before the film is fixed to the open top of the cup, so that if the film is not precisely mounted to the desired position of the cup, the portions for the handles can be too narrow to use.

The present invention intends to provide a handle for a paper cup and the handle is strong and improves the shortcomings of the conventional one.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a paper cup unit and comprises a paper cup made by water-proof paper and the paper cup has an open top. A plastic layer is formed along the open top of the paper cup and the plastic layer is an annular portion which has two slits defined therethrough. A portion between each of the two slits and the outer periphery of the plastic layer is a handle. Two ends of each of the handles are connected with inner portion of the plastic layer. The inner portion of the two ends of each of the handles connected with the inner portion of the plastic layer is an un-cut portion. The un-cut portion is a V-shaped recess or an inverted V-shaped recess. The plastic layer is formed with the paper cup by injection molding so as to increase the strength of the paper cup and the handles are formed simultaneously. The handles are made by plastic material which is the same as the plastic layer so as to bear heavy load and the handles are securely connected to the paper cup.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a paper cup unit which has a handle which is strong and reinforces the structural strength of the paper cup.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a paper cup unit wherein the open top is stronger so as to support the handles.

The present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which show, for purposes of illustration only, a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view to show the paper cup unit of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view to show the paper cup unit of the present invention, wherein the handles are bent upward;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the paper cup unit of the present invention, and

FIG. 4 shows the second embodiment of the handles of the paper cup unit of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, the paper cup unit of the present invention comprises a paper cup 10 and a plastic layer 20.

The paper cup 10 is made by water-proof paper and has an open top and a sealed bottom. The plastic layer 20 is formed along the open top of the paper cup 10.

The plastic layer 20 is an annular portion and made by bio-degradable plastic material. The plastic layer 20 is formed with the paper cup 10 by injection molding, or the plastic layer 20 is adhered to the paper cup 10 after the plastic layer 20 is formed. The paper cup 10 is coated with a film (not shown) so that the plastic layer 20 is coated on the outer surface of the paper cup 10. The plastic layer 20 includes two slits 21 defined therethrough and the slits 21 are defined in two opposite sides of the plastic layer 20. The two slits 21 do not communicate with each other. A portion between each of the two slits 21 and the outer periphery of the plastic layer 20 is a handle 22. Two ends of each of the handles 22 are connected with inner portion of the plastic layer. The inner portion of the two ends of each of the handles 22 connected with the inner portion of the plastic layer 20 is an un-cut portion 23. The un-cut portion 23 is a V-shaped recess or an inverted V-shaped recess. The two handles 22 can be easily bent upward to form a handle so that the user can hold the handle to carry the paper cup unit. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the un-cut portion 23 is formed on the bottom surface of the inner portion of the plastic layer 20. The un-cut portion 23 can also be formed on the top surface of the inner portion of the plastic layer 20.

The plastic layer 20 is formed with the paper cup 10 by injection molding so as to increase the strength of the paper cup 10 and the handles 22 are formed simultaneously with the plastic layer 20. The handles 22 are made by plastic material which is the same as the plastic layer 20 so as to bear heavy load and the handles 22 are securely connected to the paper cup 10 and are not separated from the paper cup 10.

While we have shown and described the embodiment in accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. 

1. A paper cup unit comprising; a paper cup made by water-proof paper and having an open top; a plastic layer formed along the open top of the paper cup, the plastic layer 20 being an annular portion which has two slits defined therethrough, a portion between each of the two slits and an outer periphery of the plastic layer being a handle, two ends of each of the handles being connected with inner portion of the plastic layer.
 2. The paper cup unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the paper cup is coated with a film.
 3. The paper cup unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inner portion of the two ends of each of the handles connected with the inner portion of the plastic layer is an un-cut portion.
 4. The paper cup unit as claimed in claim 3, wherein the un-cut portion is formed on a top surface of the inner portion of the plastic layer.
 5. The paper cup unit as claimed in claim 4, wherein the un-cut portion is a V-shaped recess.
 6. The paper cup unit as claimed in claim 3, wherein the un-cut portion is formed on a bottom surface of the inner portion of the plastic layer.
 7. The paper cup unit as claimed in claim 6, wherein the un-cut portion is an inverted V-shaped recess.
 8. The paper cup unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the slits are defined in two opposite sides of the plastic layer, the two slits do not communicate with each other. 